It's time for a public service announcements from the Entertainment Consumer Association. This week they kicked off a program to give ECA members the opportunity to tell the world why the ECA is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Participants are charged with creating a 30 second video describing the organization, benefits of membership and why gamers should join.

The best videos will be promoted across the ECA network and the winning video will receive $1,000 in AMEX gift cards. Additionally, the ECA will support all current and prospective film school students that participate in the program and will write endorsement letters for all appropriate video submissions.

For some examples, check out theeca.com/videos. For rules, check out www.theeca.com/video_contest_rules_and_regulations.

[Full Disclosure: GamePolitics is an ECA publication.]

The ECA has issued an "Action Alert" asking its members to help influence a Massachusetts net neutrality law sponsored by Massachusetts Representative Tom Sannicandro. The full alert from the ECA is below:

"The internet has allowed mass communication and collaboration on a scale never before seen in human history. People from vast distances are able to work together on projects and weigh in with thoughts concerning issues that matter to them. We ask you to add your thoughts regarding an issue that should matter to you – net neutrality.

Massachusetts Representative Tom Sannicandro has recognized this tool for what it is and will introduce a bill concerning Net Neutrality that involves people’s input using LexPop. You can get started and add your thoughts about Net Neutrality here.

The Entertainment Consumer Association announced today that students and U.S. military personnel may sign up to be a member of the consumer advocacy group for $1. To qualify, all you need is a valid .edu or .mil email address. With that $1 fee these members will receive affinity benefits, educational resources, and advocacy efforts that are provided to all ECA members.

You can sign up for the ECA here.

The full press release can be found below (disclaimer: GamePolitics is an ECA publication):

The Entertainment Consumers Association has issued a call to action related to net neutrality. Tomorrow Congress will drag the entire upper echelon of the FCC in to grill them about the new net neutrality rules and about its power to regulate both broadband and wireless service providers. The alert follows:

The Entertainment Consumer Association announced a major milestone today: it hit the 500,000 member mark.

I'd like to congratulate the ECA for hitting this important milestone and thank them for creating a group that supports the interest of gamers.

The full release can be found below.

Boy oh boy, do I have a treat for you today.

FoxNews has posted an article examining the violent and sexual content of the upcoming Bulletstorm and I’m happy to report that it’s the most entertainingly sensationalistic tripe I’ve read in quite a while.

Bulletstorm is an M-rated shooter due out later this month from Epic Games.  Aside from copious profanity and over-the-top violence, one of its notable features is its in-game awards system, Skill Shots.  Basically, you get funny-titled awards for dispatching your enemies in unique and gruesome ways.  Here’s how the ESRB describes it:

In an editorial entitled "Your mom will hate 'Dead Space 2,' but does anyone care?," writer Tim Dunn ponders why EA's marketing department has used a technique usually used for teens and children for a mature rated game. Further, he wonders why EA would even think about using such a campaign when the Supreme Court is hearing a case about keeping ultra violent video games out of the hands of you children.

While his comments might seems a little overblown, he points out some valid concerns as well. He mentions mature games such as Heavy Rain and Red Dead Redemption, which carry a mature rating because they are telling stories and tackling topics that are geared towards adults. The Dead Space 2 campaign plays on "juvenile notions of maturity gamers have worked hard to change." In other words, the marketing for the game takes that fight a step back.

Here is more from Dunn:

The Entertainment Consumer Association issued a call to action today asking members to tell congress that we do not need additional "warning labels" on video games.

Earlier this week Rep. Joe Baca (D CA-43), along with Rep. Frank Wolf introduced a bill that would put warning labels on video games similar to the kinds of warning labels found on cigarettes. Here's the entirety of the alert (which can be found on the ECA web site):

The Entertainment Consumers Association's ECA Institute (ECAi) officially launches a new work group called Gamers for Health. The goal of the group is to help ECA members and gamers at large incorporate gaming activities into healthy lifestyles by providing resources and tools that are effective in those areas.

Launching today, this destination for healthy gaming offers a place for gamers everywhere to join the various programs that help get you fit by gaming.

The Entertainment Consumers Association is lending its support to the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer with a donation and support for its Holiday Card Program. The Tommy Fund Holiday Card Program urges the community to purchase Tommy Fund Note Cards hand-drawn by children treated at the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital. The cards costs $12 each and all the proceeds go back into supporting children fighting for their lives against various types of cancer. The ECA is urging its members to donate to the Tommy Fund either directly or by purchasing a card.

The Tommy Fund organization serves as a helping hand to the oncology section of the department of pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine, the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital and the Yale Cancer Center. The organization works alongside the dedicated medical professionals in the front lines of this important fight.

The Entertainment Consumer Association sent out an alert this afternoon to its members urging them to write the Federal Communications Commission to tell them that America wants the net neutrality promised by the president during his campaign.

The ECA objects to the plan proposed by the FCC because it gives too many concessions to interest groups and service providers, excludes wireless providers from any new rules, and gives providers a green light to start using tiered pricing models based on the amount of bandwidth / data used. The ECA has set up a "call to action" page here.

Below is the complete letter from Brett Schenker, Online Advocacy Manager for the ECA:

As readers of GamePolitics well know, November 2 was a momentous day for the videogame industry as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Schwarzenegger vs EMA case.

That same day the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) held a rally on the steps of the Supreme Court steps in which gamers from all walks of life stood up for their favored medium.

The staff at Game Politics would like to take this opportunity to wish our readers a safe and happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful for your continued support, encouragement, engagement – and yes – even your occasional criticism.

On a personal note, I want to say a special thank you to Andrew Eisen, who goes out of his way to help us on a daily basis, and to our Shoutbox users and commenters who help us with their tips and encouragement.

Happy Thanksgiving,

James, Pete, and the rest.

Here are five more photos from the real "Rally to Restore Sanity," taking place outside the Supreme Court – no offense to Jon Stewart intended. Thanks to everyone that took time out of their busy schedules to support free speech, video games, and gamers in America (thanks to our own Matthew Olschan for sending these in).

Hal Halpin and several members of the Entertainment Consumer Association are on location at the steps of the Supreme Court this morning to support the game industry side of Schwarzenegger vs. Entertainment Merchants Association. Many members of the ECA are there (gamers!) showing their support with signs, chanting, and other displays of positivity. Below you can check out a few photos (click on the thumbnails for a better look).

The Entertainment Merchants Association passed us a quick note to let us know that the AirTalk program on KPCC ((National Public Radio in Pasadena, CA) will run a segment on (Monday, November 1 at 11:00 am PT) about the Schwarzenegger v. EMA case. Arguments for and against the California video game law will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, November 2. The ECA will be holding a rally on the steps of the court in support of the game industry and gamers.

The AirTalk Segment will feature Dr. Chris Ferguson of Texas A&M and Dr. L. Rowell Huesmann of the University of Michigan discussing the pros and cons of both sides of the issue. AirTalk is streamed live at www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk.

With all of the interest around the violent video game case, Schwarzenegger v EMA, we get questions daily on the process, the case, the legal principals, our amicus brief, others’ briefs, and what is going to happen on the day of oral arguments and beyond. While we hope that the following information will shed some light on the oral argument process, we also routinely refer folks to the Supreme Court website, as well as to relevant articles on GamePolitics.

ECA vice president and general counsel Jennifer Mercurio is the subject of this GameSpot Interview explaining just how the Schwarzenegger v. EMA will play out before the Supreme Court on November 2. One interesting fact that Jennifer points out is that the average case argued before the Supreme Court takes about an hour. That is a surprising fact, given that some of the most important issues in this country come before the court like the death penalty, First Amendment rights, gay marriage, civil rights, abortion, etc.

While some might argue that Schwarzenegger v. EMA isn't as important as those issues, I would say that having the ability to speak freely in this country - especially through artistic endeavors such as literature, films, music and video games - is the most important issue of our day. Without free speech, we are not truly a free nation.

Below is an excerpt from the interview:

While the PTC wants you to thank attorneys-general from the states that supported the California side in the Schwarzenegger vs. EMA case (i'm sure we'll get right on that), the ECA wants you to write letters to your local newspaper. These "letters to the editor" should lay out the arguments supporting the EMA's side of the case: that games are free speech, are as important to culture and movies and literature, are fun, can educate and motivate, lead to exercise, etc.

If you need some help writing a letter, check out action.theeca.com. In addition to offering a form letter, the "action alert page" offers a search function to find a newspaper near you.

The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) is inviting concerned gamers to participate in a pro-gaming rally on November 2 in Washington D.C., the same day that the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Schwarzenegger vs. EMA case.

The rally will take place on the steps of the Court, which is located at One First Street NE, at 9 AM. Oral arguments for the landmark videogame case are scheduled for 10AM ET.

The ECA noted:

The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), the nonprofit organization which represents gamers in the U.S. and Canada, has filed a 44-page amicus brief in support of the video game industry (and consumers... and sanity) with the U.S. Supreme Court this evening. You can grab the PDF here.

Co-signing onto the ECA brief are such notable organizations as: the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Public Knowledge and Students for Free Culture.

While there is a lot to sift through in this massive document, the most interesting point made on behalf of consumers is the following (taken from the arguments section):

The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) has sent an email blast out to it database of readers encouraging them to use Twitter to get their followers to speak up and sign the Gamer Petition that will be sent to the U.S. Supreme Court before it is to decide the California case on violent games.

An email from Brett Schenker, the ECA's online advocacy manager:

During PAX in Seattle, Wa. last week Entertainment Consumer Association President Hal Halpin sat down with G4TV's Adam Sessler for an hour to discuss a number of topics such as the ramifications of the upcoming Supreme Court case in November, why it is important that everyone sign the ECA's petition and the general state of the game industry.

If you haven't fully grasped how serious the upcoming Supreme Court hearing is and what ramifications it could have on the game industry and gamers, you should watch this video on G4TV.com and find out, because it's pretty scary.

[Game Politics is a publication of the ECA.]

Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) Vice President and General Counsel Jennifer Mercurio has gained admission to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and can now, should the need arise, appeal or argue any case in front of the nation’s highest court.

ECA President Hal Halpin on Mercurio’s admittance, “We couldn't be happier or more proud that Jenn was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. The timing of her admittance is critical and this landmark First Amendment case so consequential, and the potential negative repercussions of a loss so staggering, that we must all redouble our efforts.”

Mercurio is spearheading the ECA's efforts related to the association's official amicus brief ("friend of the court" document) for the Court in the upcoming violence in video games case, Schwarzenegger v. EMA.

Disclosure: GamePolitics is a publication of the ECA.

That being said, congrats Jenn!

Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) President Hal Halpin was given the opportunity to make a post on Sony’s PlayStation blog in order to talk about why Schwarzenegger v EMA should matter to American gamers and to urge them to sign the ECA’s Gamer Petition.

Halpin began by stating, “At stake: gaming in America. Yes, you read that correctly.” He continued:

In the time since the Court’s announcement there has been a lot of media coverage, both from the enthusiast outlets and the national press. A disturbing theme that you’d find too often in the consumer comments is one of apathy. Perhaps it arose from winning in each of the violence in video game cases. Maybe because, from our perspective, it’s hard to wrap your head around the idea that we could lose — the logic seems pretty obvious.

EA.com Editor-in-Chief Jeff Green took to his corporate blog to write about why gamers should care about Schwarzenegger v. EMA.

Agreeing with EA CEO John Riccitiello, who said that a Supreme Court decision upholding the California law would “screw us up in a real way,” Green argued:

… it could have a chilling effect on the gaming industry as a whole--both the makers and sellers of the games, who will have to seriously think twice about the kind of product they can and want to sell, out of fear of ending up in jail. And therein lies the bigger question at hand. Because if you substitute books or movies or music in the previous couple sentences, you can see just how wrong this is.

After years of asking game consumers to get involved in the fight to speak up and care about the issue of videogame violence, gamers have heeded the call, and at a critically important time for the industry, just as it faces perhaps its single most important challenge to date in the U.S. Supreme Court this fall.

And now for some internal stuff. The ECA has hired lawfirm Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP to assist in drafting its official friend of the court amicus brief related to the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court review of Schwarzenegger v. EMA. Full press release follows:

Sister publication GameCulture recently sat down with Entertainment Consumer Association president Hal Halpin to discuss the serious ramifications of the Supreme Court's planned review of California's violent videogame law later this year. The lead-in to that interview follows below:

"Sometime later this year or early next, the Supreme Court will review EMA v. Schwarzenegger, California's violent videogame law. The law, which would have made it illegal to sell games the state found "excessively" violent to minors, was struck down by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court in 2009. A few weeks ago the Entertainment Consumers Association announced that it will be filing an amicus brief with the high court. GameCulture asked ECA president Hal Halpin about the case, its importance and the role of gamers in what will certainly become a landmark of videogame (and possibly constitutional) law."

Read the entire interview at GameCulture now.

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to review Schwarzenegger v. EMA —a California law that would make it illegal to sell violent videogames to children—The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) is launching a two-pronged initiative designed to show the Court exactly how gamers feel about their First Amendment rights.

The ECA plans to submit an amicus brief to the Court and has also launched an online petition that will urge the Court to hold videogames as free speech, protected under the First Amendment.

ECA President Hal Halpin stated: